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SMITHVILLE — The Lady Tigers edged out their fifth consecutive victory Jan.17, going 38-37 over the Brahmas and remaining undefeated in district play.
In a game of momentum swings, Smithville and Belville traded leads throughout the contest.
The Lady Tigers trailed first with a 7-4 deficit, but a three-pointer from senior guard Arabella Gutierrez evened out the board early. Her shooting efforts continued to make a difference as the Brahmas performed in the second quarter, cutting Smithville’s deficit to two points at the break, 21-19.
The girls came back to the court with vigor and quickly claimed the lead. Junior guard Sydnie Brenner’s shots from behind the arc sparked an uncontested six-point run that gave the Lady Tigers a commanding 31-21 advantage.
Bellville responded with an 8-0 streak of its own, trimming Smithville’s advantage to 34-32.
Brenner remained pivotal in the fourth quarter, easing the tension with fast break layups and solid shooting — giving Smithville enough of a cushion to hold off the Brahmas and maintain its perfect district record.
The Lady Tigers improved to 20-8 overall and 5-0 in district play under head coach Jaimie Kadlecek, who returned to lead the team this season.
Smithville will host La Grange Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 5:30 p.m. before traveling to Giddings Friday, Jan. 24, for a 6:15 p.m. tipoff.
